Sheet spreading conveyor



y 5, 1956 cs. E. LAMB SHEET SPREADING CONVEYOR I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 12, 1954 JNVEN 701%. 650,96 5 5 i Ami I mflx/h m&

May 15, 1956 G. E. LAMB SHEET SPREADING CONVEYOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJuly 12, 1954 m .w M R mg m M V, m w E G /U WV Y4!n B WQM May 15, 1956cs. E. LAMB 2,745,538

SHEET SPREADING CONVEYOR Filed July 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V ENTOR. GE 6E E. Ari/-15 Unite States 2,745,538 Fatented May 15, 1956 iceSHEET SPREADING CONVEYOR George E. Lamb, Hoquiam, Wash., assignor toGrays Harbor Co., Inc., Hoquiam, Wash, a corporation of WashingtonApplication July 12, 1954, Serial No. 442,601

Claims. (Cl. 193-34) This invention relates to sheet handling mechanismand it has reference more particularly to a mechanism designed for thespreading apart of sheets as formed from a continuous web by thelongitudinal slitting of the web and the transverse cutting of thestrips thus formed, so that the sheets, as thus produced from theindividual strips, can be laid down flatly in laterally spaced stackingpans without the usual up-bending of their edges as is now a generalpractice.

It is customary to cut pulp sheets from a web that may be twelve or morefeet wide and continuously formed. As the web is brought from the dryingrolls it is cut longitudinally into strips and these strips are thentransversely divided by a continuous cut across the web, into pieces ofrelatively short length. These pieces, as they come from the individualstrips, are then delivered into stacking pans; the stacks, as thus made,later being wrapped and bound for shipment or handling.

In the past it has been customary to slightly turn up one: of the sideedges of each of the sheets as separated from the strips of the web toallow them to enter the spaces between plateswhich separate and alignthe stacks. Then, after the sheets have entered their respective spacesbetween plates, the turned edges are flattened out and thus push thesheets sideways to compensate for the required spacing of the stackreceiving means which are herein designated as the pans. While thismethod is successfully used in the laying down of material that willreadily spring back to its normal flat shape, material that does notreadily return toits flat condition, such as some forms of pulp board,results in stacks being formed wherein the edges of the stacked sheetswill remain turned up. To persons familiar with this industry, it isknown that such stacks are not only diflicult to wrap or package, butthere" are present other disadvantages which are not herein discussed.It can further be understood that, in the stacking of sheets as formedfrom agreat number of narrow strips'as cut from a wide web of pulp, thespace occupied by the stack receiving pans requires so much spreading ofthe sheets that the edge turning method cannot be used with any degreeof satisfaction.

In view of the foregoing explanatory matter, it has been the primaryobject of this invention to provide a novelconveyor means for receivingthe pulp sheets as cut from the strips, to spread and to deliver theminto the stacking pans in perfectly flat condition.

his a further object of the present invention to provide sheet spreadingconveyor means that receives the sheets: as cut from the stripsintowhich the pulp web is divided; and carries them in slightlydiverging paths to such distance that space to accommodate the stackingpans as: defined by the stack separating plates, is obtained.

More specifically stated, the present invention resides in. theprovision, of a novel belt conveyor means for the carrying of thesheets; as formed from the individual strips of the pulp web, wherebythe sheets will be conveyed,.without being; angularly displaced fromtheir original parallel relationship, along diverging paths to thedesired spacing and are then dropped flatly into the stacking pans; thesheet conveying belts being operable at their receiving and deliveryends, about aligned belt carrying and driving Wheels that are fixed onsupporting shafts that are arcuately curved to the extent required toaccommodate that divergent relationship of the belts that will result inthe desired spreading apart of the sheets as conveyed thereby.

Still further objects of the present invention reside in the specificrelationship and mode of use or the present sheet spreading apparatus incombination with the web cutting mechanism and stack forming pans orcompariments, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, l haveprovided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms or"which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of the present sheet spreading mechanism asassociated with the stacking pans.

Fig. 2 is a vertical secu'on of the same parts as seen on the line 2-2in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the present conveyor as seen from the discharge end.

Fig. 4 is a view iliustrating an alternative shaft and belt drivingmeans.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

in Fig. l, in which the present sheet spreading mechanism has beenrather diagrammatically illustrated in plan view, I have shown the sheetconveyor belts in a desired slightly diverging reiationship. The beltsare carried by belt wheels mounted on the arcuately curved shaftslocated at the receiving and discharge ends of the conveyor. However, itis to be explained that the degree of the areuate curvature has hereinbeen exaggerated to substantial extent for explanatory and illustrativepurposes.

In this plan View, at the receiving end of the couveyor and sheetspreading mechanism, pulp web is designated in its entirety by numeral3%. This web is of substantial width and it is here shown as beingdivided by laterally spaced longitudinal slits It into six strips of thesame Width. numeral 12 and they are shown as being transversely outalong the line 13, to detach from the web the individual pulp sheets 14-that are to be simultaneously delivered into the stacking pans.

In the present drawings, the web slitting and strip cutting devices havenot been shown as, per se, they form no part of the present invention,and it is to be understood that such devices may be any of the types nowin general use for those purposes, and whereby the individual sheetswill be discharged directly and without bending into the presentconveyor mechanism.

At the discharge end of the conveyor mechanism, I have shown a row ofsheet receiving pans; these being compartments, corresponding to the sixstrips, as defined between vertically disposed and parallel plates 15,and including the vertical stops 16 forming the back sides of the pans.The center to center distance between adjacent plates 15 isapproximately one and one-half inches more than the length of the sheets14-. Therefore, in simultaneously delivering the six sheets from the webinto their respective pans, the outside sheets must be spreadapproximately seven and one-half inches, and all must be maintained withedges substantialiy in their original parallel relationship while beingdelivered in order to properly enter the pans for stacking.

The present sheet spreading and conveying means cornprises a successionof laterally spaced sets of upper and lower conveyor belts designated bynumerals ill and 20', respectively, that operate about belt wheels 21.The wheels 21 are all of the same diameter, and are fixed on upper Thesestrips are individually designated by at receiving and discharge ends ofaxial line of rotation of each and lower supporting shafts 22 and 22'respectively, at the receiving end of the mechanism and upper and lowersupporting shafts 23 and 23' respectively, at the discharge end of themachine. Corresponding wheels on the shafts the machine being alignedfor proper travel of the belts thereon. The shafts are revolubly mountedin supporting bearings that are suitably fixed to paired and verticallyspaced cross beams 25-25 and 26-26 at the opposite ends of the mainframe structure; which paired beams are joined in spaced relationship bylongitudinal frame members which in Fig. l, are designated at 28 and 29.

Each of the paired belts 2t) and 23 have straight flights or runsthereof, as best seen in Fig. 2, extended between the shafts 22-22' and23-23, which travel contiguous to the same horizontal plane for theconveyance of the pulp sheets 14 between them from the web cutters tothe stacking pans. lust forwardly of the cross-beams 26-26 thev outsideruns of both sets of sheet carrying belts operate over idler wheelsmounted on cross shafts 36 that are supported in bearings 37, andbetween the idler wheels 35 and pulley wheels 21 on shafts 23 and 23 thebelts operate over the belt wheels 33 of belt tightening devicespresently to be described.

The shafts 36 are also arcuately curved in conformity to the curving ofshafts 22 and 23 so as to properly align the belt wheels 35 with thebelts that travel thereover. The shafts 36, however, are not driven, andthe wheels 35 either revolve freely thereon, or the shafts are free torevolve.

Assuming that the paired sets of belts 2ll2ll' are being driven at thesame speed and in the direction indicated by by the arrows adjacentthereto in Fig. 2, sheets id received between the parallel runs of thebelts will be conveyed thereby and discharged from between them to thestacking pans. However, it is in the provision for effecting thespreading of the sheets for delivery to the pans that the presentinvention resides; this being accomplished by reason of the divergentrelationship of the belts that carry 7 the sheets to the pans.

The following descripton, as applied to the upper sets of belts, thatis, to the belts 20 as seen in Fig. l, and their mounting shafts 22, 23and 26, and pulley wheels thereon shall apply equally to thecorresponding lower sets of belts, shafts, and belt mounting wheels.

Assuming that the pulp sheets are to be conveyed in a horizontal plane,the shafts 22 and 23 are arcuately curved in the same direction in ahorizontal plane. The radius of the arc of curvature of shaft 23 beinglonger than that of shaft 22 and their centers of curvature beingforwardly of the receiving end of the conveyor. Each shaft is mountedrevolubly in its supporting bearings 24 which are fixed in positions tomaintain it for axial rotation about a definitely fixed line ofcurvature. This curving of the shaft is accomplished by supporting theshafts for rotation in fixed opposite end bearings and in intermediatebearings that are mounted the proper distances out of line with the endbearings to obtain the desired arcuate curvature. If the sheets do notneed to be spread much, the radius of the arc of curvature for eachshaft will be relatively long, and can be accomplished by use of asingle central bearing. However, if the sheets must be spread aconsiderable amount, the radius of the arc will be less, and moreintermediate bearings will be required to avoid excessive stresses beingset up in the shaft adjacent the centraL bearing.

It is of importance that the offset of all the intermediate bearings becarefully calculated in order that the degree of bend at each bearingshall be substantially equal.

To drive the belts in unison, corresponding ends of the shafts 23 and23' are connected by means of flexible couplings 4% with the ends of apair of drive shafts and 50' mounted in bearings 52 in the frame member28. These shafts are geared together by a pair of interrneshing gears54-54 fixed thereon, as seen in Fig. 3, to rotate in unison and inopposite directions. Shaft 50 is equipped with a sprocket wheel 55 overwhich a driving chain belt 56 operates. This belt operates about and isdriven by a sprocket wheel 58 on the drive shaft 59 of an electric motor69.

in order that the tension on all belts can be accurately adjusted, thusto obtain the same speed of travel, each belt is provided with anindividual tension adjusting means; this being necessary by reason ofthe fact that, in use, the belts may stretch to unequal amount. Thechange in length of belts causes difference in tightness, and belts ofdifierent tightness have different degrees of slippage. Slippage resultsin causing the sheets, as carried by the belts, to twist.

The belt tightening means for each of the belts 20 and 29' are alike.Each comprises, as seen in Fig. 2, the belt wheel 38 rotatably mountedin a pulley block 62 fixed on one end of a pull rod 63. The rod ismounted for sliding longitudinal movement in a transverse supportingbeam 64 fixed parallel to and spaced from the corresponding beam 26. Acoiled spring 66 is applied under compression about each pull rod 63 tobear against the beam and a spring tension adjusting nut 67 on the rodend to pull the rod outwardly and thus maintain the belt under a desiredtension that is regulated through adjustment of the nut 67.

The sheets 14 must be uniformly grasped between the top and bottom runsof the coacting belts. Otherwise, one edge of the sheet will be pulledfaster than the other, resulting in misalignment of the sheets upondischarge. This uniformity is here accomplished by the uniform spacingof the belt carrying wheels along their supporting shafts. The top andbottom belts might be located directly over one another, but this has atendency to cause the touching belts to run ed the pulleys and it hasbeen found to be better practice to stagger the belts of top and bottomruns as seen in Fig. 3.

In the event that it should be found desirable to drive the pulleyshafts 23-23' from both ends, this can be most efiectively done, asnoted in Fig. 4, providing connections therewith at both ends like thatshown in Fig. 1, and then joining the drive shafts at each end by acrossshaft which would be driven from a medial point in order that theannular deflection would be equal at both ends. In Fig. 4, the crossshaft is designated by numeral 75. It has a central driving sprocketwheel 76, and at its ends it has sprocket chain belt connections 77 withthe drive shafts 50.

It can further be explained that the shafts which mount the belt wheelsmay not be bent to absolutely true arcs since it is not essential thatthe angle between all belts be exactly the same. The essence of theinvention resides in the arcuate bending of the shafts to such extentthat the desired spread of the belts will be obtained. If the lines ofthe belts were extended they would converge at some distance from theirreceiving ends. But in the present instance the radius of the arcs ofcurvature somewhat increase as they approach the outer ends of the shaftand thus the belts would not all converge to the same point.

It is of importance that the bearings by which the shafts are maintainedin the arcuate form be so located that stresses in the shaft at thelocation of the bearings shall be substantially equal.

The present arrangement of parts and their operation has been foundsatisfactory and to accomplish all the objects set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A conveyor for the conveying and spreading apart of sheets that arereceived at one end thereof in edge to edge relationship as cut from asingle web, for delivery from the other end of the conveyor intolaterally spaced receptacles; said conveyor comprising a plurality ofsubstantially coextensive conveyor belts driven in unison with sheetcarrying runs thereof extending in the same plane and in such divergingrelationship as to efiect the separation of the sheets as conveyedthereon to the extent of lateral separation of said receptacles, pulleywheels mounting said conveyor belts at the receiving and discharge endsof the conveyor, and cross-shafts at the receiving and discharge ends ofthe conveyor, each shaft mounting all of the pulley Wheels at thecorresponding end of the conveyor thereon; and means maintaining each ofsaid cross-shafts in a predetermined curvature whereby each of thepulley wheels will be maintained in operative alignment with theindividual belt which operates thereabout.

2. A conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said shaftsis equipped with a driving means, and drives all of the pulley wheelsmounted thereon.

3. A conveyor for the conveying and spreading of sheets that arereceived at one end thereof in edge to edge relationship as cut from asingle web; said conveyor comprising upper and lower sets of beltsoperating in unison between the place of reception of said sheets andthe place of their discharge; said belts as comprised in the upper andlower sets all being in slight divergence, from receiving to dischargeends, and said belts of the upper and lower sets having runs thereofoperating substantially in the same plane to receive and convey saidsheets between them, and to efiect the spreading apart or" the sheets,as conveyed, and as determined by the degree of divergence of the belts;cross-shafts at the receiving and discharge ends of the conveyor,bearings mounting said shafts, pulley wheels mounted on said shafts andmounting said belts thereon, means for driving one shaft and the wheelsmounted thereon to eifect the driving of the belts in unison; the shaftmounting bearings being located at spaced intervals therealong andmounting the same for rotation about axial lines of predeterminedcurvature whereby the pulley wheels are maintained in operativealignment with the particular belts that operate thereover.

4. A conveyor as in claim 3 wherein an individual belt tightening meansis associated with each belt.

5. A conveyor for the conveying and lateral separation of sheetsdeposited thereon at the receiving end in close side by siderelationship across the conveyor; said conveyor comprising a pluralityof substantially coextensive conveyor belts with article carrying runsthereof operating in the same plane in unison and extending in divergingrelationship, pulley wheels mounting the belts at their opposite ends,cross-shafts at the receiving and discharge ends of the conveyor, eachmounting all of the pulley wheels at the corresponding end of theconveyor coaxially thereon and fixed bearings mounting said cross-shaftstherein and maintaining them in that predetermined curvature whereby thepulley wheels as mounted thereon will be maintained in operativealignment with the individual belts operating thereabout and means fordriving one of said shafts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 85,012King Dec. 15, 1868 862,148 Filteau Aug. 6, 1907 1,858,320 Beardsley eta1. May 17, 1932 1,938,110 Neutelings Dec. 5, 1933 2,090,598 ParsonsAug. 17, 1937 2,326,098 Kimmich Aug. 3, 1943 2,594,591 Runton Apr. 29,1952 2,626,422 Lammertse Jan. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 525,995 GermanyJune 1, 1931

